Fielding single-car team in NASCAR an uphill battle

He knows about going to battle with a short stick, competing as David in a world of Goliaths. He knows the role of being an underdog.

But ask him if he'd rather be doing something else, and he'd tell you he wouldn't have it any other way.

That's because Wysor is part of Ward Burton's NASCAR Nextel Cup team. Burton drives the No. 4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

By TED DUNNAM

Wysor and some of his closest friends were in Friendswood last Thursday, showing off the car that Burton ran at Texas Motor Speedway this past spring.

That's because Coburn's Wholesale Distributors of Friendswood is now on board as a sponsor for Burton, and its advertising will be on display when Burton competes at Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 5-7.

Wysor handles the promotional end of things for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, traveling the countryside, making more than 200 stops a year in an attempt to attract sponsors.

"The tire bill alone for one race is $16,000," Wysor said. "Each team gets 40 tires. If we run out of tires, that's it. We don't have a teammate we can just run to and get more tires."

Unless you're Hendrick Motorsports or Roush Racing or another big money team, staying afloat in NASCAR is no easy business.

Burton is better off than some, worse than others. It didn't hurt his pocketbook any when he won the 2002 Daytona 500. However, he has won only one race since then (the 2002 New England 300 in Loudon, N.H.).

A five-year drought doesn't exactly get sponsors chomping at the bit, but Burton is a proven winner. Still it's hard for even the best drivers to compete in today's NASCAR against multi-driver teams.

New rules and formats haven't helped the "lone rangers" on NASCAR's premier circuit.

The most talked about, scrutinized and criticized element of NASCAR is "The Chase", the current playoff format, a season-ending 10-race segment to decided NASCAR's overall champion.

Twelve drivers qualify for "The Chase", and all pretty much have an equal chance of winning since any previously earned points are practically negated.

"I think it's good and bad," Wysor said. "If you get into The Chase, then it's good. All of those drivers are going to get exposure and lots of air time. But if you're not in The Chase, television's not going to show any other drivers."

Briefly summed up, the rich get richer.

Qualifying for races is different, also. The top 35 drivers in points are guaranteed a spot in the 43-car field, meaning only eight outside drivers have a chance to get in each week.

"I like Tony Stewart's idea," Wysor said. "Everybody should have to qualify. If you don't run fast enough, you don't get in. I don't care who you are. Nobody gets a guarantee.

"If you don't run fast enough, you go home. It's not fair to the sponsors at all when guys get it in that don't run as fast as other drivers."

Again, that's the right and fair way to do it. But if Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon didn't qualify for a race, NASCAR would blow a gasket.

They know their fan base, but more importantly, they know where the money is.

Wysor has been in NASCAR for 17 years, and proudly flashed a ring he received for being part of the Morgan-McClure team that helped Ernie Irvan win the Daytona 500 in 1991.

The Honaker, Va. Native was heading to Lake Charles, Lafayette and New Orleans this week, doing two shows a day in an effort to lure sponsors.

He's already made 175 stops this year.

"It's a struggle, but I wouldn't rather be doing anything else," he said. "We've got 17 cars in our shop in Abingdon (Va.) and seven of those are the new COT (Car of Tomorrow) cars.

"I like them because you can race the same car at Bristol as you can at Talladega. You change the set-up, but that's about it. It'll help us save time and money. Ward's pretty happy with the way things are going - he knew it would take a lot of work.

"We're moving in the right direction. In this business, you just keep working hard and move forward.